Cotto-Margarito II Confirmed for December 3

Over three years after their first brutal encounter, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito have come to terms to rematch each other on December 3 in New York City.

The fight had been in jeopardy due to eye problems Margarito retained after having his orbital bone broken in his November 2010 loss to Manny Pacquiao. Team member Francisco Espinoza verified that doctors have cleared Margarito to begin preliminary training. Cotto’s last fight was a 12th round TKO over Ricardo Mayorga on March 12.

In their first bout, Cotto jumped out to an early lead by fighting off the backfoot and connecting with a vast array of power punches. Margarito weathered this early storm to wear down Cotto in the middle and late rounds with relentless pressure, body punching and uppercuts to the head. The punishment broke a bloody Cotto for two knockdowns before Cotto’s corner stopped the fight in the 11th round.

In 2009, Margarito would be suspended for over a year for attempting to use hardened, plaster-like hand wraps against Shane Mosley. Throughout that year, Cotto publicly questioned if Margarito utilized that same tactic in their fight. In addition, the Puerto Rican fighter derided his Tijuana rival as a “cheat” in an interview with this writer in November 2009.

Due to his suspension and two savage beatings at the hands of Manny Pacquiao and Shane Mosley, Margarito has only competed in three bouts since 2009. Cotto’s own activity has been hampered; he has only fought twice in the last two years due to arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder.

Even though ring wars have diminished both men since their 2008 Las Vegas bout, this is still a big fight. The storylines are already in place. Can Cotto achieve revenge? Can Margarito redeem the validity of the biggest win of his career? Can Cotto significantly improve his first performance now that he’s under the tutelage of Emanuel Steward? Does Margarito still have the same chin he did in 2008 to walk through Cotto’s shots?

These are all questions that will make people tune in. The obvious spot would be Madison Square Garden, where Cotto has fought several times in the past (most recently against Joshua Clottey in June 2009). But Arum should consider making the event bigger by holding this card at the site of Cotto’s title-winning effort against Yuri Foreman, Yankee Stadium. It would be an absolutely electric atmosphere.

With Sergio Martinez unable to land a big fight, I kind of thought he’d go after Margarito – to “beat every man he’s ever faced”. Of course, that would be a one sided beating and I don’t know Barker from a can of paint, so I can’t say what’s best.